To
Obasanjo and His Fellow "Tourists"--Charity Begins at Home
By
Osita Chiagorom
That the president and commander-in-chief of
the armed forces of the world's most populous black nation, Nigeria has spent a
year of his 3 years in office chasing foreign investors outside is longer news.
The only thing very disturbing is the over-emphasis on "foreign
investors" to improve our economy. With the way our dear president traveled
to all hooks and corners of the world one could easily draw a conclusion that he
has so much belief that until foreign investors step into Nigeria, our economy
will never improve.
He seem to portray, with his numerous travels that the "foreign investors
will do the magic in the revival of our economy" immediately they step into
Nigeria.
My question is, why have a great country like Nigeria with its enormous
resources, wealth, and manpower been made to look like a "beggar" in
the international community.
Why have we continued to over depend on European and Asian markets. Why have we
over depended on their goods?
Today, all manners of things are imported into Nigeria, even the ones that we
can easily manufacture. Does that mean that we lack the gift of science,
technology and invention? Today, technology is ruling the world. That's the only
field where Africans have failed.
That's the only field where the Western world and Asia have used to emphasize
their superiority over us.
Does that mean that the Westerners, Japanese, Chinese are more intelligent than
we are? Does that mean that we lack technological gift? My answer is capital
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. At least, we have produced a computer whiz kid in the person of
Prof. Emeagwali. Although he is Nigerian born, it seems today that he has been
claimed by the US.
The same goes to hundreds of other Nigerian born scientists who are scattered
all over the western countries. The country has lost hundreds of intellects.
Well, I will not blame them because they don't want to get wasted in Nigeria, a
country that believes that money is everything.
Our intellects have continued to flee the country because the government is not
ready to accord then the respect of providing a conducive atmosphere and
material to excel. They are frustrated out of the country.
The reason why the West and Asians are better than us is that they recognise and
invest a lot in science and invention while in the Nigerian context, our leaders
are after their own pocket, and looting the national treasury.
We prefer to use the hard earned tax payers money to embark on a useless globe -
trotting in the guise of "searching for foreign investors" to improve
our economy when we have the intellects at home that can do it
Those of us who are hoping on forcing foreign investors to invest in Nigeria are
making a mistake. They are worsening our problems, cheapening us in the eyes of
the international community.
Today, Bush has stopped coming to the airport to welcome our president again.
The US government has even warned their citizens about their safety in coming to
Nigeria. He is indirectly telling Baba.... "PLEASE STOP COMING".
Bush need not tell Obasanjo in the face that his endless visits are not welcomed
again. The young man is tired of Baba's endless visits.
The way and manner in which Obasanjo is ruling the country should be understood
from the antecedents of caliber of men who are advising him. That's why the
government has completely lost focus. You can't surround yourself with self
seeking, sycophantic personalities and expect to behave well. Men like Jerry
Gana, Tony Anenih, Adamu Ciroma are all well known to us. They have no vision.
These men are nothing than sit-tight, professional politicians who have
continued to be in power for almost 20 years now. We are not unaware of the
roles they played during the military eras.
They have refused to let the upcoming generation have a chance to serve their
fatherland.
Zik, Awo, Gowon, Ojukwu, Fajuyi, Ejoor, Mattew Mbu, Aminu Kano, Micheal Okpara,
Usman Katsina, Murtala Mohammed, John Nwodo, etc. started serving Nigeria in
their 30's.
Former US President, Bill Clinton and the present president, George Bush were
both governors in their early 30's before they eventually became presidents.
Today's Nigeria is different. Our fathers or should I saw grandfathers have
refused to retire and give us a chance.
They want to remain in power till death sets them apart. Today, we have a state
governor that is almost 80 years old!!! From all indications he is coming back
by 2003.
As far back as 2000,most of the elected officers have already started planning
their re-election, come 2003 when they are yet to achieve anything.
When can Nigeria ever produce exemplary leaders
like Abubakar Balewa, Aguiyi Ironsi, Micheal Okpara, Aminu Kano, Adekunle Fajuyi?
How much was found in their bank accounts when they died? How many mansions did
they leave behind after their deaths?
To me, these are some of the real patriots that Nigeria ever had. They served
the people without enriching themselves with the public funds.
The subsequent governments have misled us to believe so much in the so-called
oil boom. Today, it is oil, oil, oil!!!
We have forgotten about palm oil, groundnut, cocoa and other natural resources.
Our main focus is on the proceeds of the oil but we don't give a damn about the
maintenance of the lands that produce it.
That's another Nigerian factor, we lack maintenance culture. Today, the Niger
Delta, the area that produces the oil is an eyesore. Most of them have to travel
a long distance in search of drinking water because most at times their water is
polluted with oil. The people are suffering today because they provided Nigeria
with a golden source of making wealth. What was supposed to be a source of joy
to them is now a source of sorrow and regret.
What of the Ajaokuta Iron project? Subsequent governments have wasted millions
of dollars on this project that has refused to be completed. Today, the contract
has gone from one foreign firm to another.
Lest, I will not forget Clinton's words when he came calling in Abuja in August
2000.
He warned Nigeria of its over dependency on oil emphasizing that the monopoly of
oil may not last forever. With the improvement of technology the reliance on Tin
and Coal has declined, so are its sales and monetary proceeds.
Just a few days ago, my Zambian friend told me how copper used to flourish in
Zambia some years back. Today, it is not the same again. The improvement of
technology has provided an alternative to copper. What if the oil falls under
the same category? What if a substitute for oil is found? What will happen to
Nigeria?
Although that I have always regarded the former special duties minister, Alhaji
Wada Nas as a very controversial figure, I was quite impressed by his recent
comment recently on the THISDAY NEWSPAPER with regards of what will become of
the North if Nigeria eventually breaks up.
He stated that there would be no cause for alarm as the North would be able to
sustain itself because he "was in Nigeria when there was no oil. Yet there
was government going on. Since we could live without oil in the past, we can
easily live without it in the future. It is very dangerous to rely heavily on
oil. We have to think of other resources. This oil is making us very lazy."
True to Alhaji Nas words, the oil has really spoilt Nigeria. It has made us lazy
indeed. We have abandoned other means of livelihood. We are not looking up to
science and technology because we believe that with our oil money we can lay our
hands on any product we want. We prefer to import almost everything, even the
ones that we can simply manufacture in Nigeria.
Today, we are importing all manners of junks into the country. Did I hear that
the government is about to ground Ethiopia Airways and KLM, for
"importing" fake Indian drugs into the country? Wonderful!!!!
Again, here we notice the Nigerian factor. We never accept faults. How on earth
can these airlines be blamed when it was Nigerians that really traveled to
India, bought the drugs and packaged it to Nigeria?
What efforts have the subsequent and the present government done to encourage
science and technology among the youths?
Today, our-could-have-been scientists are wasting. Nobody is encouraging them.
The highest they can go is winning a science competition during their college
eras and that's all. They are not encouraged further, unlike in pro-scientific
countries where students discovered to have a vision for technology are given
scholarships and materials to make out the best in them.
The only thing that is becoming a culture to most youths in the upcoming
generation is the belief that the main aim of contesting political power is to
have access to loot the national treasury. This is the impression created by our
fathers cum sit-tight professional politicians.
A few days ago, Pakistan launched their locally manufactured submarine
notwithstanding that they are already a nuclear power. This is a country that is
regarded as a very poor country. Nigeria has more resources than Pakistan.
What of Malaysia? It is a shame that Malaysia which got their first palm
seedling from Nigeria in the early 60"s are now a world giant in palm oil
produce while Nigeria the palm oil produce giant of the 1960"s is nowhere.
What a pity!!!!
Why didn't Abacha use his loot to make Izuogu's motor project, ZEE 2000 a
reality? I pray that by the grace of God, Dr.Izuogu will live and complete that
very interesting project. Does that mean that the Nigeria government can't
successfully sponsor that project?
Today I hear that the Minister of Transport, Ojo Maduekwe is importing hundreds
of bicycle into the country to "alleviate the transportation problem of the
common man". Nigeria has continued to be a parasite to the European and
Asian markets, when we have the men with the mental capability to develop these
things.
Our problem is that in the Nigerian context, tribal sentiments, corruption,
mediocrity and recklessness is appreciated at the expense of excellence and
talent. Nigeria as a country has never appreciated technology.
Why didn't the Nigerian government use those Biafran scientists after the war?
Why?
If BIAFRA can manufacture weapons of war as far back as 1967 with very limited
resources at its disposal, what prevents Nigeria with its enormous wealth from
manufacturing an aeroplane by today...? 40 years after?
In my conclusion, I am harping that we really need to put our house in order.
Charity must start at home. That's the only way that we can attract foreign
investors. You don't force an investor to invest in a falling economy. Nobody
wants to loose his money. Our president even confessed that his visits have not
yielded any result.
That's after he spent a year of his 3 years in office, chasing and begging
foreign investors. How have we really managed our resources? This is what
investors are really after.
Just watch on how the naira has crash-landed, starting from 1980 when it used to
exchange at par with the dollar.
It is when we correct the system, and those wrongs that frustrated most of our
intellects to flee, that foreign investors will start trooping to Nigeria.
It is not embarking on endless visits. We need to stay at home and concentrate
to solve these ills. It needs concentration. Constant travels are a source of
distraction.
It is the efforts we make by ourselves to improve our economy that will attract
foreign investors.
My due respect to the various individuals who, despite the nonchalant attitude
of the subsequent Nigerian governments, made their marks in their efforts to
promote technology. The likes of Chief Onwuka Kalu, of the popular Aba based
ONWUKA HY-TECH is one of them. The most astonishing thing about him is that as a
very young man, he had a vision as far back as 1976 to set up one of the
technological advanced companies of that time.
I wonder what could have happened if the government of then had that foresight
as far back as 1976.
Maybe Nigeria could have been like Japan, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong etc.